Amy Trout, et vir v. Karl P. Riggle, M.D., et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland grants Defendants’ motion to amend the scheduling order in a medical malpractice action. Applying Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4), the court finds good cause for extending the expert-disclosure, discovery, admission, and dispositive-motion deadlines. The order adopts the revised schedule proposed by Defendants.

Holdings

1. Defendants demonstrated good cause under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4) to modify the scheduling order because the case remained in an early phase, this was the first requested extension, Defendants provided reasons related to expert retention and review of medical records, and Plaintiffs identified no prejudice.
2. The court granted Defendants' proposed scheduling-order modifications, including extensions for joinder and pleading amendments, expert disclosures, supplementation, discovery, requests for admission, and dispositive motions.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Defendants demonstrated good cause under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b)(4) to amend the scheduling order.
2. Whether the proposed extensions of expert-disclosure, discovery, and related deadlines should be granted in light of the parties' early stage of litigation and the absence of demonstrated prejudice.

Disposition

other